U.S. patent application number 14/879103 was filed with the patent office on 2017-04-13 for bicycle front derailleur.
The applicant listed for this patent is Shimano Inc.. Invention is credited to Takafumi NISHINO.
Application Number | 20170101160 14/879103 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58405609 |
Filed Date | 2017-04-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170101160 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
NISHINO; Takafumi |
April 13, 2017 |
BICYCLE FRONT DERAILLEUR
Abstract
An electric front derailleur for a bicycle. The derailleur
includes a chain guide, a linkage assembly movably connected to the
chain guide, and an electrical actuation unit operatively coupled
to the linkage assembly to move the chain guide with respect to the
electrical actuation unit. The electrical actuation unit includes a
mounting portion configured to be attached to a bicycle frame. The
mounting portion is secured to the electrical actuation unit. The
mounting portion permits the position of the electric front
derailleur to be adjusted with respect to the bicycle frame.
Inventors: |
NISHINO; Takafumi; (Osaka,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Shimano Inc. |
Osaka |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
58405609 |
Appl. No.: |
14/879103 |
Filed: |
October 9, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62M 2025/006 20130101;
B62M 9/135 20130101; B62M 9/132 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B62M 9/132 20060101
B62M009/132 |
Claims
1. An electric front derailleur comprising: a chain guide; a
linkage assembly movably connected to the chain guide; and an
electrical actuation unit operatively coupled to the linkage
assembly to move the chain guide with respect to the electrical
actuation unit, wherein the electrical actuation unit includes a
mounting portion configured to be attached to a bicycle frame, and
the mounting portion is secured to the electrical actuation
unit.
2. The electric front derailleur according to claim 1, wherein the
mounting portion has one of a convex surface and a concave surface,
the bicycle frame includes a mounting bracket having the other of
the convex surface and the concave surface, and the convex surface
is configured to engage with the concave surface.
3. The electric front derailleur according to claim 1, wherein the
mounting portion has a bore, which is adapted to receive a fastener
for fixing the mounting portion to the bicycle frame.
4. The electric front derailleur according to claim 3, wherein the
bore is a threaded bore.
5. The electric front derailleur according to claim 3, wherein the
bore has a central bore axis extending in a front-rear direction in
a state where the mounting portion is attached to the bicycle
frame.
6. The electric front derailleur according to claim 3, wherein the
bore is a first bore, the mounting portion includes a second bore,
and the first and second bores are configured to selectively
receive the fastener for attaching the mounting portion to the
bicycle frame, wherein selection of one of the first and second
bores adjusts a position of the chain guide with respect to the
bicycle frame.
7. The electric front derailleur according to claim 3, wherein the
mounting portion is detachable from the electrical actuation
unit.
8. The electric front derailleur according to claim 7, wherein the
mounting portion is configured to allow the orientation of the
mounting portion with respect to the electrical actuation unit to
be changed to adjust a position of the chain guide.
9. The electric front derailleur according to claim 7, wherein the
electrical actuation unit has a first housing containing an
electrical motor to actuate the linkage assembly, and the first
housing has a recess to receive the mounting portion.
10. The electric front derailleur according to claim 9, wherein the
recess is a blind hole.
11. The electric front derailleur according to claim 1, wherein the
electrical actuation unit has a first housing containing an
electrical motor to actuate the linkage assembly, and the mounting
portion is integrally formed with the first housing of the
electrical actuation unit.
12. The electric front derailleur according to claim 11, wherein
the first housing of the electrical actuation unit is made of a
first material, the mounting portion is made of a second material,
and the first and second materials are different from one
another.
13. The electric front derailleur according to claim 1, wherein the
electrical actuation unit has a first housing containing an
electrical motor to actuate the linkage assembly, and the first
housing of the electrical actuation unit and the mounting portion
are made of different materials, respectively.
14. The electric front derailleur according to claim 13, wherein
the first housing of the electrical actuation unit is made of a
resin material and the mounting portion is made of a metallic
material.
15. The electric front derailleur according to claim 1, wherein the
electrical actuation unit has a first housing containing an
electrical motor to actuate the linkage assembly, and the first
housing of the electrical actuation unit is made of a resin
material.
16. The electric front derailleur according to claim 15, further
comprising a wireless communication unit contained within the first
housing.
17. The electric front derailleur according to claim 1, wherein the
electrical actuation unit has a first housing containing an
electrical motor to actuate the linkage assembly, the first housing
of the electrical actuation unit has a front end, and the mounting
portion extends downwardly from the front end.
18. The electric front derailleur according to claim 17, wherein
the mounting portion and the linkage assembly are at least partly
overlapping with each other as viewed from a direction
perpendicular to the vertical direction in a state where the
mounting portion is mounted to a mounting bracket of the bicycle
frame.
19. The electric front derailleur according to claim 1, further
comprising a power supply unit.
20. The electric front derailleur according to claim 19, wherein
the electrical actuation unit includes a first housing, and the
power supply unit includes a second housing that is removably
coupled to the first housing of the electrical actuation unit.
21. The electric front derailleur according to claim 20, wherein
the first housing of the electrical actuation unit has a front
housing portion and a rear housing portion, and the second housing
of the power supply unit is coupled to the rear housing portion,
and the mounting portion is coupled to the front housing
portion.
22. The electric front derailleur according to claim 1, further
comprising a base member, wherein the electrical actuation unit is
attached to the base member through the mounting portion.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention generally relates to a front derailleur for a
bicycle, and more particularly, to a mounting structure of an
electrical actuation unit of an electric front derailleur.
[0002] A derailleur mounting bracket is often welded or otherwise
fixed to the seat tube of the bicycle frame to support a front
derailleur. A drawback of the derailleur mounting bracket is that
it does not allow for variation in the size difference between
different front sprockets; thus, different front derailleurs may be
necessary to accommodate different sprockets.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The invention is basically a an electric front derailleur
including a chain guide, a linkage assembly movably connected to
the chain guide, and an electrical actuation unit operatively
coupled to the linkage assembly to move the chain guide with
respect to the electrical actuation unit. The electrical actuation
unit includes a mounting portion configured to be attached to a
bicycle frame, and the mounting portion is secured to the
electrical actuation unit.
[0004] In another aspect, the mounting portion has one of a convex
surface and a concave surface, the bicycle frame includes a
mounting bracket having the other of the convex surface and the
concave surface, and the convex surface is configured to engage
with the concave surface.
[0005] In another aspect, the mounting portion has a bore, which is
adapted to receive a fastener for fixing the mounting portion to
the bicycle frame.
[0006] In another aspect, the bore is a threaded bore.
[0007] In another aspect, the bore has a central bore axis
extending in a front-rear direction in a state where the mounting
portion is attached to the bicycle frame.
[0008] In another aspect, the bore is a first bore, the mounting
portion includes a second bore, and the first and second bores are
configured to selectively receive the fastener for attaching the
mounting portion to the bicycle frame, wherein selection of one of
the first and second bores adjusts a position of the chain guide
with respect to the bicycle frame.
[0009] In another aspect, the mounting portion is detachable from
the electrical actuation unit.
[0010] In another aspect, the mounting portion is configured to
allow the orientation of the mounting portion with respect to the
electrical actuation unit to be changed to adjust a position of the
chain guide.
[0011] In another aspect, the electrical actuation unit has a first
housing containing an electrical motor to actuate the linkage
assembly, and the first housing has a recess to receive the
mounting portion.
[0012] In another aspect, the recess is a blind hole.
[0013] In another aspect, the electrical actuation unit has a first
housing containing an electrical motor to actuate the linkage
assembly, and the mounting portion is integrally formed with the
first housing of the electrical actuation unit.
[0014] In another aspect, the first housing of the electrical
actuation unit is made of a first material, the mounting portion is
made of a second material, and the first and second materials are
different from one another.
[0015] In another aspect, the electrical actuation unit has a first
housing containing an electrical motor to actuate the linkage
assembly, and the first housing of the electrical actuation unit
and the mounting portion are made of different materials,
respectively.
[0016] In another aspect, the first housing of the electrical
actuation unit is made of a resin material and the mounting portion
is made of a metallic material.
[0017] In another aspect, the electrical actuation unit has a first
housing containing an electrical motor to actuate the linkage
assembly, and the first housing of the electrical actuation unit is
made of a resin material.
[0018] In another aspect, the electric front derailleur includes a
wireless communication unit contained within the first housing.
[0019] In another aspect, the electrical actuation unit has a first
housing containing an electrical motor to actuate the linkage
assembly, the first housing of the electrical actuation unit has a
front end, and the mounting portion extends downwardly from the
front end.
[0020] In another aspect, the mounting portion and the linkage
assembly are at least partly overlapping with each other as viewed
from a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction in a state
where the mounting portion is mounted to a mounting bracket of the
bicycle frame.
[0021] In another aspect, the electric front derailleur includes a
power supply unit.
[0022] In another aspect, the electrical actuation unit includes a
first housing, and the power supply unit includes a second housing
that is removably coupled to the first housing of the electrical
actuation unit.
[0023] In another aspect, the first housing of the electrical
actuation unit has a front housing portion and a rear housing
portion, and the second housing of the power supply unit is coupled
to the rear housing portion, and the mounting portion is coupled to
the front housing portion.
[0024] In another aspect, the electric front derailleur includes a
base member, and the electrical actuation unit is attached to the
base member through the mounting portion.
[0025] Other advantages and features of the present invention will
become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following
detailed description and the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is a side view of a bicycle including an embodiment
of an electric front derailleur according to the invention;
[0027] FIG. 2 is a side view of the electric front derailleur of a
first embodiment;
[0028] FIG. 3 is an exploded top view of the electric front
derailleur of FIG. 2 and a seat tube of a bicycle frame;
[0029] FIG. 4 is a side view of a front housing of an electrical
actuation unit of the electric front derailleur of FIG. 2;
[0030] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an electrical actuation unit of
the electric front derailleur of FIG. 2;
[0031] FIG. 6 is a rear view of the electric front derailleur of
FIG. 2;
[0032] FIG. 7 is a front view of the electric front derailleur of
FIG. 2;
[0033] FIG. 8 is a front view of the electric front derailleur of
FIG. 2;
[0034] FIG. 9 is a front view of an electric front derailleur of a
further embodiment of the invention;
[0035] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a removable element of the
embodiment of FIG. 9;
[0036] FIG. 11 is a side view of an electric front derailleur of a
further embodiment of the invention;
[0037] FIG. 12 is a side view of an electric front derailleur of a
further embodiment of the invention
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0038] FIG. 1 shows a bicycle 10 that includes a seat 14,
handlebars 18, a frame 22, a seat tube 26, pedals 30, a large
sprocket 34, a small sprocket 38, a front wheel 42, a rear wheel
46, a chain 50, and an electric front derailleur assembly 54. An
operating device 56, which permits the rider to control the front
derailleur assembly 54, is located on the handlebars 18. For
reference purposes, the bicycle 10 includes a center plane 58 (See
FIG. 6), which includes a center axis 62 of the seat tube 26,
extends in a longitudinal direction of the bicycle 10, and is
perpendicular to an axis of the rear wheel 46. These and other
unnumbered parts of the bicycle 10 are well known in the art and
will not be discussed or illustrated in detail, except to the
extent that they are modified in conjunction with the present
invention.
[0039] Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 6-8 the electric front
derailleur 54 basically includes a chain guide 90, a linkage
assembly 94, which is movably connected to the chain guide 90, and
an electrical actuation unit 98, which is operatively coupled to
the linkage assembly 94 to move the chain guide 90 with respect to
the electrical actuation unit 98. The electrical actuation unit 98
includes a mounting portion 102, which is configured to be attached
to the bicycle frame 22. The mounting portion 102 is secured to the
electrical actuation unit 98.
[0040] The mounting portion 102 has a bore 106, which is adapted to
receive a fastener 114 for fixing the mounting portion 102 to the
bicycle frame 22. The fastener 114, in this embodiment, is a
threaded bolt, as shown in FIG. 3. In the illustrated embodiment of
FIG. 2, the bore 106 is a threaded bore. The mounting portion 102
is coupled to the seat tube 26 of the bicycle 10 by a mounting
bracket 118, which is welded or otherwise fastened to the seat tube
26. The mounting bracket 118 includes a through hole (unnumbered)
for receiving the fastener 114. Thus, the mounting portion 102
couples the electric derailleur 54 to the seat tube 26 of the
bicycle frame 22 through the mounting bracket 118.
[0041] Although the bore 106 is preferably a threaded bore in the
embodiment of FIG. 2, the bore 106 can be a through hole, and a nut
(not illustrated) can be provided, for example, behind the bore 106
to receive an end of a threaded fastener to secure the front
derailleur 54 to the mounting bracket 118.
[0042] The bore 106 has a central bore axis 126 extending in a
front-rear direction in a state where the mounting portion 102 is
attached to the bicycle frame 22. The central bore axis 126 is
preferably parallel to the center plane 58 and horizontal when the
front derailleur 54 is mounted to the seat tube 26 via the mounting
portion 102 and the bicycle 10 is the upright position of FIG.
1.
[0043] The electric front derailleur 54 is constructed to move
between at least a retracted position and an extended position. As
best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the front derailleur 54 includes a base
member 154, which, along with the chain guide 90 and the linkage
assembly 94 forms a four-bar linkage mechanism for shifting the
chain guide 90 with respect to the base member 154. The base member
154 is a stationary member of the four-bar linkage mechanism. The
linkage assembly 94 permits lateral movement of the chain guide 90
between at least the retracted position and extended shift
position, i.e., at least first and second shift positions. The
basic operation of shifting the chain 50 is well-known and thus
will not be described or shown in detail.
[0044] The electric actuation unit 98 includes a first housing 162
and a second housing 166. The second housing 166 is removably
coupled to the first housing 162 of the electric actuation unit 98.
The first housing 162 and the second housing 166 are illustrated in
their coupled state; however, the second housing 166 can be
separated from the first housing 162 by, for example, removing
fasteners (not illustrated) that secure the second housing 166 to
the first housing 162. FIG. 4 shows the first housing 162 uncoupled
from the second housing 166. Alternatively, a manually operated
latch (not illustrated) can be provided to permit easy coupling and
uncoupling of the second housing 162 without the use of
fasteners.
[0045] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the electrical actuation unit
98. As shown in FIG. 5, the first housing 162 contains an
electrical motor 174 to actuate the linkage assembly 94. Further, a
wireless communication unit 178 is contained within the first
housing 162. The wireless communication unit 178 can be, for
example, composed of an ANT module configured to receive the
wireless signals from the operating device 56 using the
predetermined ANT protocol. However, the wireless communication
unit 178 can include another type of wireless module. In this
embodiment, the wireless communication unit 178 is part of a shift
control unit 182. In this embodiment, the first housing 162
contains, the shift control unit 182, the wireless communication
unit 178, a central processing unit (CPU) 186, a memory 190, for
storing programs and data, and the electrical motor 174, which is
electrically coupled to and controlled by the shift control unit
182. At least one of the wireless communication unit 178, a central
processing unit 186 and a memory 190 can be located outside of the
first housing. Further, at least one of the wireless communication
unit 178, a central processing unit 186 and a memory 190 can be
configured to be included in other electrical bicycle components.
The wireless communication unit 178 is used for receiving a
wireless signal to shift the chain guide 90 or to update the
programs (firmware) stored in the memory 190, for example. The
details of the wireless function and motor control of an electric
front derailleur are known in the art and will not be described in
detail herein. In the present invention, however, the electric
front derailleur 54 can be configured without the wireless
communication unit 178. In such a case, the electric front
derailleur 54 can receive an operation signal or other signal, from
an operation device (a switch unit) or the other wireless unit via
an electrical cable.
[0046] As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, the electric front derailleur
54 includes a power supply unit 198. The power supply unit 198 is
electrically coupled to the shift control unit 182 to power the
shift control unit 182 and the electrical motor 174. The power
supply unit 198 includes the second housing 166, which is removably
coupled to the first housing 162 of the electrical actuation unit
98. More specifically, the first housing 162 of the electrical
actuation unit 98 has a front housing portion 234 and a rear
housing portion 238, and the second housing 166 of the power supply
unit 198 is coupled to the rear housing portion 238. The mounting
portion 102 is coupled to the front housing portion 234. The front
housing portion 234 corresponds to the front of the bicycle 10, and
the rear housing portion 238 corresponds to the rear of the bicycle
10, when the electric front derailleur 54 is fixed to the bicycle
10. In the present invention, however, the electric front
derailleur 54 can be configured without the power supply unit 198.
In such a case, the electric front derailleur 54 can be supplied
with electrical power from a power supply unit that is included in
another bicycle component via an electrical cable electrically
coupling the electric front derailleur 54 and the power supply
unit.
[0047] The power supply unit 198 includes a source of power, such
as a battery 202. When the first housing 162 is coupled to the
second housing 166, the battery 202 is electrically coupled to the
shift control unit 182. For example, the first housing 162 and the
second housing 166 can be provided with exposed electric terminals
(not illustrated) that are located to contact one another when the
first housing 162 is coupled to the second housing 166.
[0048] The linkage assembly 94 is operatively coupled to a motor
linkage 246 to move the chain guide 90 between the first shift
position and the second shift position in response to operation of
the electrical motor 174. Details of the motor linkage 246 are
known in the art and will not be described here.
[0049] As shown in FIG. 3, in the illustrated embodiments, the
mounting portion 102 has a convex surface 210 and the mounting
bracket 118 has a concave surface 214. However, this configuration
can be reversed such that the mounting portion 102 has a concave
surface 214 and the mounting bracket 118 has a convex surface 210.
In other words, the mounting portion 102 has one of a convex
surface 210 and a concave surface 214, and the bicycle frame 22
includes the mounting bracket 118, which has the other of the
convex surface 210 and the concave surface 214. The convex surface
210 is configured to engage with the concave 214 surface when the
mounting portion 102 is secured to the mounting bracket 118.
[0050] The first housing 162 of the electrical actuation unit 98 is
made of a first material 222, the mounting portion 102 is made of a
second material 226, and the first and second materials 222, 226
are different from one another. In other words, the first housing
162 of the electrical actuation unit 98 and the mounting portion
102 are made of different materials, respectively. Preferably, the
first housing 162 of the electrical actuation unit 98 is made of a
resin material and the mounting portion 102 is made of a metallic
material. For example, the mounting portion 102 can be made of
aluminum alloy.
[0051] In the embodiment of FIGS. 2, 3, and 6-8, the mounting
portion 102 is integrally formed with the first housing 162 of the
electrical actuation unit 98. Although the mounting portion 102 is
preferably made of metallic material and the first housing 162 is
preferably made of a resin material, the mounting portion 102 can
be integrally formed with the first housing 162 by, for example,
insert molding. Alternatively, the mounting portion 102 can be a
separate member that is fastened to the first housing 162.
[0052] In the embodiment of FIGS. 2, 3, and 6-8, the bore 106 is a
first bore, and the mounting portion 102 includes a second bore
110, and the first and second bores 106, 110 are configured to
selectively receive the fastener 114 for attaching the mounting
portion 102 to the bicycle frame 22. Selection of one of the first
and second bores 106, 110 adjusts the position of the chain guide
90 with respect to the bicycle frame 22, in a direction along the
center axis 62 of the seat tube 26. The second bore 110 is, like
the first bore 106, a threaded bore. FIG. 2 and FIG. 7 show the
mounting portion 102 fastened to the first bore 106. FIG. 8 shows
the mounting portion 102 fastened to the second bore 110. The
electric front derailleur 54 is mounted at a relatively higher
position in FIG. 7 in comparison to FIG. 8. Thus, the height of the
electric front derailleur 54 can be adjusted by choosing between
one of the first and second bores 106, 110. Additional adjustment
bores can be formed in the mounting portion 102 for additional
adjustment levels. This allows sprockets of varying sizes to be
accommodated by one electric front derailleur 54. Further, the
second bore 110 can be omitted from the electric front derailleur
54.
[0053] FIGS. 9 and 10 show an additional embodiment. Except as
described below, an electric front derailleur 54b of FIGS. 9 and 10
is the same as the electric front derailleur 54 described above.
Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, in a second embodiment, a removable
element 254 serves as the mounting portion 102. A bore 270 is
formed in the removable element 254 to receive a fastener (not
illustrated). The bore 270 is a threaded bore or through hole. In
this embodiment, the bore is a through hole. The fastener used in
the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10 is a threaded bolt. In
this embodiment, the mounting portion 102 is detachable from the
electrical actuation unit 98. The first housing has a recess 258 to
receive the mounting portion 102. In this embodiment, the recess
258 is a blind hole. The recess 258 and the removable element 254
are sized to permit the removable element 254 to fit within the
recess 258. In this embodiment, the mounting portion 102 is
configured to allow the orientation of the mounting portion 102
with respect to the electrical actuation unit 98 to be changed to
adjust the position of the chain guide 90. In other words, to
change the height of the electrical front derailleur 54b, or the
position of the chain guide 90 in an axial direction of the seat
tube 26, an operator changes the orientation of the removable
element 254 with respect to the recess 258 by one hundred and
eighty degrees. Although the recess 258 and the removable element
254 are rectangular in the illustrated embodiment, the recess 258
and the removable element 254 can have other shapes, such as an
oval shape, as long as the shape permits a change in
orientation.
[0054] As shown in FIG. 9, a first recess bore 262 and a second
recess bore 266 are formed in the bottom of the recess 258. In one
variation, the recess bores 262, 266 are threaded to engage the end
of the fastener to secure the mounting portion 102 to the
electrical actuation unit 98 when the fastener is secured to the
mounting bracket 118. In another variation (not illustrated), the
recess bores 262 and 266 are through holes, and a threaded nut is
provided at the rear of the electrical actuation unit 98 to engage
with the fastener to secure the mounting portion 102 to the
electrical actuation unit 98 when the fastener is secured to the
mounting bracket 118. In this variation, the threaded opening of
the nut can be positioned to align with either the first recess
bore 262 or the second recess bore 266 in accordance with the
orientation of the removable element 254 and the location of the
fastener. Further, if a nut is used to engage the fastener, a
single elongated opening can replace the two recess bores 262,
266.
[0055] In the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10, the bore 270 can be a
threaded bore to engage the threads of the fastener 114. In this
case, the recess bores 262 and 266 can be eliminated, and a latch
or other fastener (unillustrated) can be employed to retain the
removable element 254 in the recess 258, while permitting the
removable element 254 to be removed when it is desired to change
its orientation.
[0056] FIG. 11 shows an additional embodiment. Except as described
below, an electric front derailleur 54c of FIG. 11 is the same as
the electric front derailleur 54 described in connection with FIGS.
2-8. Referring to FIG. 11, the first housing 162 of the electrical
actuation unit 98 has a front end 274, and the mounting portion 102
extends downwardly from the front end 274. The front end 274
corresponds to the front of the bicycle 10 when the electric front
derailleur 54c is fixed to the bicycle 10. This permits the
electrical front derailleur 54c to be used with a mounting bracket
118 that is positioned lower on the seat tube 26 in comparison to
the position of the mounting bracket 118 in FIG. 2, for
example.
[0057] The length of the downward extension of the mounting portion
102 from the front end 274 can be varied. Preferably, referring to
FIG. 11, the mounting portion 102 and the linkage assembly 94 are
at least partly overlapping with each other as viewed from a
direction perpendicular to the vertical direction (the axial
direction of the seat tube 26) in a state where the mounting
portion 102 is mounted to the mounting bracket 118 of the bicycle
frame 22. In other words, at least part of the mounting portion 102
and at least part of the linkage assembly 94 are at the same height
when the bicycle 10 is in the upright position of FIG. 1 and as
viewed in FIG. 11.
[0058] In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 11, the mounting
portion 102 is preferably formed integrally with the first housing
162. However, the mounting portion 102 can be formed separately and
fastened to the first housing 162.
[0059] FIG. 12 shows an additional embodiment. Except as described
below, an electric front derailleur 54d of FIG. 12 is the same as
the electric front derailleur 54 described in connection with FIGS.
2-8. Referring to FIG. 12, the electrical actuation unit 98 is
attached to the base member 154 through the mounting portion 102.
As shown in FIG. 12, as in the embodiment of FIG. 11, the first
housing 162 of the electrical actuation unit 98 has a front end
274, and the mounting portion 102 extends downwardly from the front
end 274. However, the rear surface of the mounting portion 102 is
attached to the base member 154. The electrical actuation unit 98
is attached to the upper end of the mounting portion 102 such that
the mounting portion 102 is between the electrical actuation unit
98 and the base member 154. In this embodiment, the mounting
portion 102 can be formed integrally with the base member 154 or
formed separately and fastened to or engaged with the base member
154. Likewise, in this embodiment, the mounting portion 102 can be
formed integrally with the first housing 162 or formed separately
and fastened to or engaged with the first housing 162.
[0060] The term "detachably attached" or "detachably attaching," as
used herein, encompasses configurations in which an element
directly attached to another element by directly affixing the
element to the other element while the element is detachable from
the other element, without damage, and configurations in which the
element is indirectly attached to the other element via an
intermediate member or members while the element is detachable from
the other element and the intermediate member or members, without
damage. This concept also applies to words of similar meaning, for
example, "detachably joined," "detachably connected," "detachably
coupled," "detachably mounted," "detachably bonded," "detachably
fixed" and their derivatives.
[0061] While the invention has been described in detail with
respect to specific embodiments, those skilled in the art, upon
attaining an understanding of the specific embodiments, may readily
conceive of alterations, variations, and equivalents to these
embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be
assessed as that of the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *